Topic: International Order

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain visited Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping, joining a string of Western leaders seeking deals with China. Sanchez urged China to take a larger role in maintaining international order, while President Xi positioned China as a stable global power compared to the U.S. Despite these diplomatic overtures, analysts suggest China's leverage over Iran remains limited due to its non-interference policy.

The evolution of the FBI's portrayal in media is discussed, noting a shift from "bumbling idiots" in early Dick Wolf productions to the "competent worldwide police force" seen in the series "FBI: International." The hosts suggest this is a form of propaganda designed to normalize the FBI's involvement in foreign investigations across Europe. This media framing contrasts with the agency's actual domestic and international controversies.

A prediction is made that architect Frank Gehry will design a house for Hillary Clinton. The hosts mock Gehry's "gobbledygook" architectural style, referencing his appearance on *The Simpsons* and linking his work to the "new international rules-based order."

CNN's Christiane Amanpour framed the debate over Ukraine funding as a matter of "paying the bill" for democracy. She expressed confidence that the House of Representatives would eventually pass the supplemental request once members heard from their constituents. The rhetoric emphasizes a moral obligation to defend the "free and open international order" against autocratic aggression.

Indonesia hosted the G20 summit, which local organizers also branded as the B20 (Business 20) event. This meeting coincided with several other international conferences, including COP27 and various hydrogen energy forums. Critics noted the heavy presence of New World Order themes and the coordination of global policy across these simultaneous high-level gatherings.

A professor on Chinese state media (CGTV) criticizes the Western concept of a "rules-based order," arguing it is a tool for U.S. hegemony rather than international law. The segment describes the use of economic sanctions as "international gangsterism" aimed at crushing non-compliant nations.

General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the purpose of the US military is to uphold the "rules-based international order" established after World War II. The hosts challenge this assertion, arguing that the primary mission of the armed forces is to defend the US Constitution. They note that Milley has made similar statements regarding global interests in the past.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley discuss the need to "revitalize" the international order. Hadley argues that if the U.S. does not lead, the system will benefit powers like Russia and China at the expense of smaller nations. The hosts interpret these statements as a push for global governance and a "New World Order" that excludes nationalist interests.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Vice President Joe Biden warns of threats to the "liberal international order" posed by Russia and Vladimir Putin. Secretary of State John Kerry suggests the Trump administration may only last two years. The hosts interpret these comments as part of a broader "regime change" or impeachment plan against Trump.

In his final speech to the United Nations, President Barack Obama stated that powerful nations must accept "constraints" and be willing to give up some "freedom of action" to bind themselves to international rules. Critics interpret this as a call to surrender U.S. sovereignty to international tribunals and globalist institutions. The speech is viewed as a definitive statement on the administration's commitment to a multilateral world order.